Muratov, 59, is one of the founders and editor-in-chief of the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, and “has defended freedom of expression in Russia for decades under increasingly difficult conditions,” the jury stressed.
Meanwhile, Ressa, 58, a former CNN journalist and co-founder of the online information page Rappler, has been the subject of several investigations, legal proceedings and intense cyberbullying in recent years. The journalist published articles critical of the head of state, Rodrigo Duterte, including his bloody and controversial fight against drug trafficking, reported the AFP news agency.
“Nothing is possible without facts”, Ressa said, after receiving the news of the Nobel. This journalist was already awarded in April with the Unesco / Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2021, created in memory of the Colombian journalist Guillermo Cano assassinated in 1986.
In 120 years of history, the Nobel Peace Prize winner had never recognized the work of an independent press. “Reports that help us stay informed and get an idea of current affairs in real time are essential for a good public debate and for democratic institutions,” recently stressed the director of the Oslo Peace Research Institute, Henrik Urdal.
Upon receiving the news of the award, Muratov wanted to dedicate it to his newspaper and his murdered journalists. Just before, the Kremlin had hailed the “courage” and “talent” of the reporter.
“We congratulate Dimitri Muratov. He works unceasingly following his ideals, upholding them. He has talent and courage.”, the spokesman for the Russian presidency told reporters, Dimitri Peskov.
This year 329 nominations competed for the Nobel Peace Prize and the Belarusian opposition or the climate activist were favorites Greta Thunberg, as well as organizations dedicated to protecting press freedom from repression and censorship such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF) or the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Hitting the winner or winners (three maximum) is not easy given the secrecy in which they have kept individuals and organizations on the list for 50 years.
The question remains as to whether the winners will be able to travel to Oslo to receive the award for both the pandemic and the situation in their respective countries.
The award, which consists of a diploma, a gold medal and a check for 10 million crowns (980,000 euros), is usually awarded on December 10, the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel (1833-1896).
After the Peace Prize, the only one announced in the Norwegian capital, the Nobel Prize winners return to Stockholm to close the ad season next Monday with the Economics award.
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